ETHIOPIA IDP Situation Report May 2019 Highlights • Government return operations continue at full scale and sites are being dismantled. • Where security is assured and rehabilitation support provided, IDPs have opted to return to their areas of origin. IDPs who still feel insecure and have experienced trauma prefer to relocate elsewhere or integrate within the community. Management of IDP preferences differs in every IDP caseload. • There is minimal to no assistance in areas of return. Local authorities have requested international partner sup- port to address the gap. Meanwhile, public-private initiatives continue to fundraise for the rehabilitation of IDPs. • The living condition of the already vulnerable host communities has deteriorated having shared their limited resources with the IDPs for over a year. I. Displacement context Government IDP return operations have been implemented at full scale since early May 2019 following the 8 April 2019 announcement of the Federal Government’s Strategic Plan to Address Internal Displacement and a costed Re- covery/Rehabilitation Plan. By end May, most IDP sites/camps were dismantled, in particular in East/West Wollega and Gedeo/West Guji zones. Humanitarian partners have increased their engagement with Government at all levels aiming to improve the implementation of the Government return operation, in particular advocating for the returns to happen voluntarily, in safety, sustainably and with dignity. Overall, humanitarian needs remain high in both areas of displacement and of return. Most assistance in displace- ment areas is disrupted following the mass Government return operation and the dismantling of sites, while assis- tance in areas of return remain scant to non-existent, affecting the sustainability of the returns. The majority of the returnees require assistance pending full recovery and rehabilitation of damaged houses, properties and livelihoods. This calls for continued humanitarian assistance in the interim and a scaled-up recovery and rehabilitation support in the large areas where this kind of support is viable. Secondary displacements of returnees have been reported in most areas of East and West Wollega zones due to lack of assistance and insecurity in areas of return. In other areas of the country where returns have taken place, most IDPs have returned to their damaged homes or to areas nearby. Oromia and Somali regions host the largest number of displaced population followed by Tigray and Amhara regions that have far smaller IDP caseload, according to DTM. While 80 per cent of the IDPs are living with the host commu- nity, 20 per cent are sheltered in sub-standard collective sites/camps. The two major recent displacements (Gedeo/ West Guji and Benishangul Gumuz/Wollegas), where there is a greater focus and the situation is still volatile, con- stitute 31 per cent of the total IDP caseload. The remaining 69 per cent are in areas with fewer reported constraints (security, access, services). Where security is assured and rehabilitation support provided, most IDPs opt to return to their areas of origin. IDPs who still feel insecure and have experienced trauma prefer to relocate elsewhere or integrate within the community. The Government’ and partners’ primary goal with regards to the IDP crisis in the country has been to provide lifesav- ing assistance where needed, and to facilitate durable solutions, preferably in areas of origin. However, severe funding constraints have negatively impacted sustainable solutions of the current crisis. There is a need for an immediate scale up of support for the most vulnerable irrespective of their categorization and location. 1 II. Displacement hotspots, needs, response, gaps Overall, given the large number of IDPs, the high volatility of the situation and the vast expanse of area where returns are happening, it is still very difficult to provide a general and accurate picture, not least due to the specificity of lo- calized reality, return process and experience. Gedeo and West Guji As of 22 May, Gedeo zonal government reports indicate that some 320,000 IDPs have returned IDPs by woreda from Gedeo to West Guji zone, the majority from Dila City Admin 14 - 1,500 Abaya Gedeb woreda, while nearly 20,000 IDPs have re- Dila Zuria 1,501 - 4,000 turned from West Guji to Gedeo zone. But there Wenago Bule 4,001 - 10,000 are still discrepancies in the official return figures Gedeo Yirgachefe Town 10,001 - 12,518 provided by the zones. The fact that the large ma- Yirgachefe Gelana (West Guji) Kochere jority of the returnees moved in with host com- Returnees by zone Hambela Wamena munities might be one explanation for the dis- Kochere Gedeb crepancies. Kercha Site Management Support (SMS) team reported Birbirsa Kojowa that 16 sites were closed in Gedeo zone (Gedeb Bule Hora Town woreda: Asgori, Chichu Buna Gebeya, Dibandibe, Suro Berguda Bule Hora Gedeb Dadatu Harojitu School, Gedeb Dadatu West Guji Melka Soda Harojitu Mender, Kalehiwot Kifle Mahber, Roho- Dugda Dawa bot Church, Kalehiwot Church, Konasho, Maze- gaja Maekel, Mekaneyesus Church, TVET college and Warka Health Center. Yirgachfe woreda: Yirgachefe Stadium); and 20 sites closed in West 37K Guji zone (Kercha woreda: Banko Korke, Badessa Ilala, Borotu Irba, Birhanehiwot Church, Bukisa Kalehiwot Church, Dobi kalehiwot Church, FTC Site 1, Goro Ad- min Office, Goro Dugo, Koke Gaba Buna, Kebele Office Suke Chiga, Kebele Office Ela Farda Badia, Mechaneyesus Church, Lami Irba Office, Lami kercha Office, Worko Kalehiwot Church and Zemach kalehiwot Church. Bule Hora woreda: Gadu Jaba Sire Kebele Office) as of 22 May. Some vulnerable groups (the elderly, the sick, pregnant mothers) are reportedly allowed to stay in the site, including in Chelechele (210 people), Hawariat Church (15 households), Mokonisa (10 households), Youth Centre (200 people), as well as very fewSherkole people in Kalehiwot Kifle Mahber, Kidus Keranyo and Spring sites. Kurmuk Sodal/Sirba Abay Homosha Menge IDPs by woreda Returns continue amidst reports of minimal to no assistance in areasAsosa of return. While the vast majority of the re- 26 - 1,500 turnees have reportedly gone back to their respective houses or lands and Odaliving Bilidigilu in makeshift shelters, fewIbantu IDPsKiremu are Yaso Assosa temporarily sheltered in collective sites in return areas. 1,501 - 4,000 Gida Ayana Agalometi 4,001 - 9,701 Bambasi Mendi Town Haro Limu Limu Mana Sibu The Government has been providing limited food and non-food supplies in Kiltureturn Kara areas.Kemashi Local authorities have West Wellega Leta Sibu Nejo East Wellega Returnees between zones requested international partner support to address the gap. In Gedeo zone, the WaSHNejo Cluster, Town Kamashi in collaboration with Babo Jarso Belojiganfo the SMS team, agreed to start de-commissioning stances of latrineGudetu in all Kondole sites in GedebBoji and Dirmeji Yirgachefe. ContinuingBila Seyo Begi Returnees within the zone GulisoBoji Chekorsa Sasiga WaSH activities in return areas is also crucial given the ongoing rainy season and theLalo high Asabi risk for a choleraGuto Gida and Ayira Gimbi TownGimbi Nekemte Town Sibu Gobu Seyo other outbreaks. The health and nutrition clusters will continue nutrition screening and treatmentHoma activities to avert Sire Gaji Diga Wayu Yubdo Haru Tuka further spikes in malnutrition in the zone. WFP has prepositioned supplies to treat moderate malnutritionLeka Dulecha for the Boneya Boshe Sayo Nole Wama next six months. JEOP has been providing food for 436,000 beneficiaries (IDPs/ReturneesNole andKaba HRP) in Gedeo. HagaloThe Nunu Kumba second round distribution will start upon the completion of the joint targeting exercise for returnees. TheJimma agriculture Arjo Gechi and education clusters are also considering farming supplies support and renovation of damaged schools respective- ly, but lack of funding is limiting their intervention so far. Meanwhile, the Gedeo zone authorities informed that there are 8,056 damaged houses that need rehabilitation support. The ES/NFI Cluster indicated a capacity to support the reconstruction of 6,858 and to provide 3000 shelter materials immediately. In West Guji zone, CRS (in Bule Hora) and IOM (in Kercha woreda) have started the reconstruction of 500 damaged 2 IDPs by woreda Dila City Admin 14 - 1,500 Abaya houses each, this project has started before the current return Dilaoperation. Zuria JEOP food distribution1,501 - 4,000 is ongoing in the Wenago zone but based on the caseload prior to the returns. Discussions areBule ongoing on possible joint4,001 targeting- 10,000 for returnees. While sites have been emptied, de-commissioning activities haveGedeo not started yet. Meanwhile, UNDP launched its Yirgachefe Town 10,001 - 12,518 Recovery and Rehabilitation Program on 29 and 30 May inYirgachefe Bule Hora, West Guji zone. The program aims to under- Gelana (West Guji) Kochere take several activities to support the rehabilitation of the returnee population in West Guji zone,Returnees including by zone house re- construction and peace building activities. The program will run forHambela three Wamena years until 2022. Public-private initiatives Kochere Gedeb also continue to fundraise for the rehabilitation of IDPs in both Gedeo and West Guji. Kercha At least 690,364 people were displaced by the Gedeo/West Guji communalBirbirsa Kojowa conflict since April 2018, including 374,872 in Gedeo and 315,492 in West Guji. While the largeBule Horamajority Town of the IDPs have been living with host com- munities, only 21 per cent have been living in 94 collectiveSuro Berguda centers/campsBule Hora (92,939 IDPs in Gedeo and 54,078 in West Guji). The living condition of the already vulnerable host Westcommunities Guji has deteriorated having shared their limited resources with the IDPs for over a year. Melka Soda Dugda Dawa Benishangul Gumuz and East-West Wollega As of 21 May, 51,120 IDPs in West Wollega zone reportedly returned to Benishangul Gumuz and 24,404 IDPs re- turned to border areas of West Wollega zone, making it 90 per cent of the targeted (83,269) IDPs for return.